Riders Protest Mandatory Barrier

A group of riders held a peaceful and orderly protest early today in front of the Commision of Human Rights Office to condemn the implementation of the backriding policy set by the Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) that mandates the use of only prescribed barriers effective Aug 1,2020.

“Hindi ligtas ang polisiya na ito sapagkat sa dry run palang ay marami nang naitalang aksidente dahil sa barrier na hindi aerodynamic at madaling tangayin ng hangin, ” said the group’s spokeperson Robert Perillo.

The barrier will also be a great financial burden to the riders. It costs P500 to P1,500 or the equivalent to 1 to 4 days salary of an ordinary worker.

“At kapag nahuli ka na wala o di aprubado ng IATF ang barrier na gamit ay magmumulta ka ng hanggang 10,000 piso,” Perillo added.

The group stressed that the barrier is not neccesary since the helmet already has a protective shield, and with a face mask, is enough to protect the rider and passenger. Also, the policy only allows married couples or legal partners to backride which sleeeps in the same bed anyway.

They also expressed their dissappointment with DILG Secretary Eduardo Año’s remark that the motorcycle experts should it leave it to the government when it comes to COVID 19 management.

“Nagsalita na ang mga manufacturers ng motorsiklo at mismong mga inyinhero mula sa Philipppine Society of Mechanical Engineers na hindi ligtas ang paglalagay ng barrier. Ang mga rider naman na silang nakararanas ng aksidente dahil dito ay mas nababahala, hindi nagmamarunong na katulad ng mga opisyal ng IATF,” said Perillo.

The riding community feels hurt and betrayed that in addition to being tags as criminal suspects by law enforcers and the government, they are also now being treated as experiemental gunea pigs in this time of pandemic.

“Muli po kaming umaapela sa IATF, payagan niyo ang pag-aangkas ngunit huwag niyo kaming obligahin sa hindi ligtas na barrier. Hindi nga kami mamamatay sa COVID pero mamamatay naman kami sa aksidente,” Perillo ended.

Source Don Pangan

Thank you for visiting insideracing.com.ph. You may express your thought below through the comment section. You may also follow us on Facebook, on Instagram @Insideracingnation or on our YouTube channel.